Redox-responsive Nanomicelles with Intracellular Targeting and Programmable Drug Release for Targeted Tumor Therapy.

Abstract

Anti-inflammatory medications, in particular aspirin, have chemopreventive and anticancer adjuvant effects on specific types of cancers, according to ongoing anti-tumor research. Additionally, efforts have been made to transform Poly(salicylic acid) (PSA) into delivery-related nanocarriers. to transport anticancer medications into nanocarriers. However, tumor cell targeting and tumor selectivity were lacking in the salicylic acid polymer-based nanocarriers, preventing them from performing to their full potential. The objective of this study is to prepare targeting and reduction-responsive poly pre-drug nanocarriers (HA-ss-PSA NPs) and to investigate the feasibility of delivering adriamycin (DOX) as nanocarriers. The structures of the polymers were confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectroscopy (1H-NMR) and infrared spectroscopy (IR); the encapsulation rate and drug loading of DOX-loaded nanoparticles were determined by HPLC; and the anti-tumor effects of the carriers were evaluated by MTT experiments and in vivo</i> experiments. The prepared nanocarriers had uniform particle size distribution. The drug release rate was up to 80% within 48 h in the tumor environment. DOX/HA-ss-PSA NPs showed significant cytostatic effects. In addition, HA-ss-PSA NPs showed significant targeting and inhibition of cell migration in cell uptake and scratch assays. In vivo</i> experiments showed that the prepared carriers had high tumor inhibition rates, good targeting effects on the liver and tumor, and significantly reduced toxicity to other tissues. The prepared HA-ss-PSA NPs could effectively inhibit the growth of HepG2 cells and tumors in vivo</i>, indicating that PSA could be used as a backbone component of a safe and reliable drug delivery system, providing a new strategy for the treatment of liver cancer.